Some Random Toughts

I have had some what are interesting to me thoughts and I thought I would share.

First and foremost, I'm really done with living overseas. I have become jaded and really just want to be in the US of A. I love the food here in South Korea and the people are very kind, however, I look around and see big city and places that while close still take forever to get to and planning for everything. The mountains are beautiful and we will take advantage of those for more hikes in our future and we will attend cultural festivities. (such as the Lantern Festival which we did enjoy) I am grateful for all I have learned living among other countries and I will continue to take advantage, but if I were offered the chance to go back home and not leave again, I would take it in a heartbeat.

My little boy, Dillan, has a very kind heart and I hope that will always be preserved. When we were on the subway the other day there was a beggar. A man whose legs weren't operating properly and who was clearly milking that fact to get more money from strangers. He used the opportunity of 2 large American families with many children to have a very hard fall. He laid on the ground not moving for a few minutes to drum up some sympathy. He made the mistake of doing this among people who have lived in many cultures and have seen many beggars--we weren't buying it. He eventually got up and moved on. My tender hearted little one, however, was clearly shaken. I answered many questions of "Mommy why did he fall?" and " Mommy is he ok?" I love that he is so caring and I hope he keeps that innocent and tender heart.

Meghan jinxed herself by stating that she had never been to the ER. She got her chance this week with a chipped bone in her foot. Don't worry she is fine--just in a boot for a week and then a follow up to see what's next. Anyway, Brendan pointed out that he made it all the way through football with no injuries....I'm scared of what's coming up in wrestling!!

I have another reason aside from just watching my kids play to attend all their sporting events. There was a boy on Dillan's soccer team who was injured during the game on Saturday. And when I say injured, I mean his arm was facing in 3 separate directions.  It was gruesome. And sadly for the child there was no parent there so the coaches were frantically making phone calls and rushing the boy to the ER on their own. We found out later in the day that the injury required surgery. (although I was not surprised by that fact) I can't imagine putting coaches, doctors, or my children in that situation just because I didn't get up early on a Saturday to attend a game.

I truly love my job! I get excited about what I am doing with those Kinders every day! I spend so much time looking up new ideas and planning it's crazy, but I LOVE it! Not everyone gets to have a job that is their hobby too.

I also love the days that I don't have to go to work and get to spend time with family. I love when Shane is actually living in the same house as us! We have spent this 3 day weekend just watching movies, talking, eating good food, going to the lantern festival with friends, oh and just reading and relaxing. It has been awhile since I just sat and read a book for fun...I have really enjoyed it.

So my random thoughts as I look back I realize all have to do with my family and what makes us happy. I'm so glad that I realize what that is and that we can take time to enjoy each other.

Now if we can just get back to the states and realize some of our other dreams.....

Labor Day Weekend/Mt. Soyosan

I'm going to warn you up front this is a long post with many pictures....

On Friday, Brendan was supporting his high school and dressed out with his JV team at the Varsity football game. He was leading by example since he is the Captain of the JV team! Yep, I'm a proud Mama.  (The Varsity won by the way and the JV has their first game next weekend)

Saturday, we headed up to Camp Casey to Shane's Hooch. He usually comes to Yongsan to see us, but we switched it up a bit this week :) Camp Casey was holding a Labor Day Festival so we got in on a bit of the fun. The kids did some rides and games.

Dillan got to see Ironman

 

Shane ran an obstacle course. I have no pictures though....some boy of 15 who shall remain nameless forgot to take any. I was working a Family Readiness Group booth for the Battalion (see doing my part :) )

Then we went out for a Beef and Leaf dinner....We all LOVE Beef and Leaf!!! We went to this restaurant--Piggy Cow.

Here is a bit of what the dinner was like--all you can eat buffet. You pick our your own cuts of meat and then cook them on the little grills on the table. I need to get one of these for our house...Love them!!!

This is a picture of the bowl of veggies I got to go with my meat...there is kimchi and sprouts, and I don't even know what all else, but it's yummy.

I'm sure Shane would love to know I put a picture of him with his mouth full, but I really wanted to show the "wrap" in his hand. This is how you eat these....you wrap your meat into the leaf pick up to eat. (thus beef and leaf)

I put some veggies on mine too--here is a picture before I wrapped it.

Shane and I chose to have a beverage as well :)

 

On the way home we enjoyed this sign on the post bus :)

 

On to Sunday, we headed north to Mt. Soyosan for a hike. We had a fantastic time! It took us a total of about 4 hours and the kids did great (most of the time) Very little whining :)

These pictures were all at the beginning before we started.

I guess the Koreans think you need a warm up first.

Dillan said that piggy back rides were a good idea...I'm not sure this is what he meant.

Here is the map of where we were going...nope couldn't read it.

But this said it should take about 4 hours. So off we went.

Here are a couple of pictures I took on the way up, but it was tough so most of the time my phone (camera) was tucked away in Shane's camelback.

 

 

We made it to the top and the views made it all worth it--even Meghan the one who whined the most said it was. This looks out over Camp Casey which was really pretty cool to look at from way up there.

I promise Dillan made it to the top too, but he was too busy running around (where did that energy come from???)

 

We rested and had a much deserved snack.

See I told you Mr.Silly made it :) Oh and please take notice of Dillan's new blue graphite hiking stick--and Katie's red one--and Brendan's new Korean hiking pants. (Don't worry we didn't leave Meghan out--she had an extra night with Shane and got dinner, bowling, breakfast, and a new movie)

 

 

And then it was time to head back down. You would think that part would be easy, but ummmm....

This is looking back up and what we hiked down...it was all piled rock...tough. This is also when Dillan decided the terrain and the view reminded him of Lord of the Rings and started pretending to shoot arrows like Legolas...we thought he was more like Gimli--little, falling behind, and complaining about everything so we said --no arrows, only an ax!! LOL!!! (This was also the part of the hike where a group of Koreans, who were taking a picnic break, called Dillan over and gave him a peach and a humongous apple. They sure do love my blonde cutie)

When we got to the bottom there was a temple. This is the first one of these we have seen. Unfortunately, most of it was under construction so we might have to go back and check it out another time...don't worry we won't hike this mountain again. There are too many others to tackle.

People had piled the rocks up into little towers all over the place.

 

This was a really creepy bug we saw--the antenna were so big!!

 

 And this is where all the Koreans went after the hike--they were picnicking and having a great time by the water.

 

And that was the hike...on to a much needed lunch...we went and found a place that had pictures on their menu and we were all set.

 

We LOVE these "pancakes". They have green onions and squid and are fried. They are delicious!!!

And this was a cold soup--it had cucumbers, seaweed, kimchi, and tofu in it. Shane and I were not fans of the tofu, but the rest was really good. We also had a spicy lettuce salad that had some tofu on it...again not a fan. Surprisingly, my kids like it though.--Dillan and Katie like it and the other 2 don't mind it.

And I have this picture because the Koreans mostly drink water with meals so we don't order drinks. But, when we had finished our meal the server brought us 2 bottles of coke "for free" My kids are always getting free stuff here.

 

So that was our Labor Day Weekend. We had a great time. I hope you enjoyed yours.